Minnesota, the midwestern U.S. state located along the northern shores of Lake Superior, is characterized by vast forests, prairies, and rolling hills. It is aptly named the ‘Land of 10,000 Lakes’ with over 10 acres of the state’s northern region covered in 11,842 lakes. The southern part of Minnesota features fertile agricultural lands. Thousands of wildlife species and plants call this state their home.
The state has 6 national parks, including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, and Voyageurs National Park, which you can visit in search of the local wildlife. The Sax-Zim Bog is a great place to see birds.
List of Different Types of Animals Found in Minnesota
Though cougars no longer live in Minnesota, they occasionally wander into the state’s borders from surrounding places. Caribous and wolverines used to be found here, but now their population has been extirpated.
Birds
The list includes both native residential and migratory birds.
Large predatory animals like black bears, coyotes, and wolves are some of the deadliest animals in the state. Then there are the venomous species of snakes and spiders – eastern Massasauga, timber rattlesnake, black widow, and brown recluse.
What animals in Minnesota are threatened or endangered?
Several animals are considered to be threatened or endangered in the state, including the Canada lynx, moose, slender glass lizard, Blanding’s turtle, wood turtle, and Blanchard’s cricket frog.
Wolves, bobcats, coyotes, bats, flying squirrels, owls, and raccoons are a few of the animals in Minnesota you will likely encounter at night.
What are some common invasive animals in Minnesota?
There are plenty of invasive insects in Minnesota that are threatening the native ecosystem. These include the Emerald ash borer, Asian-Long horned beetle, and Brown marmorated stink bug. The black carp and tilapia are two invasive fish species, while the mute swan is an invasive bird.
